Fraser has been LibDem Councillor for the West End on Dundee City Council since 2001 and has topped the poll in all of the five council elections he has contested. He has served as the Council’s Education Convener, Finance Convener and Planning and Transport Convener. Fraser was appointed a Bailie by the City Council in 2017, in recognition of his 16 years of service to constituents.

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Friday, 31 July 2015

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Scottish Water manhole repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Milnbank Road (between Rosefield Street and Bankmill Road), Dundee.

The recent decision by the City Council to undertake a compulsory purchase of the derelict property at 28 Roseangle, which I warmly welcomed, resulted in several constituent concerns about another empty property in Roseangle - Number 2 at the top end of the Street (see right).

"2 Roseangle ... is deteriorating fast. I was shocked to see lots of pigeons flying in and out of the cupola recently and there has been a broken window facing the street ... surely the owner must keep the building wind and watertight?"

I contacted the City Council's Planning Enforcement Officer about the situation and have now been advised :

"I have issued a letter requesting the property to be made wind and watertight."

Thursday, 30 July 2015

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Big Lunch event being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Arnhall Gardens, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Saturday 1 August 2015 for one day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

No alternative routes are available however access to residents will be maintained.

At the request of the sheltered tenants at the Ancrum Place/Morven Terrace, I asked the Environment Department of the City Council if new benches could be provided as the existing outdoor seating was in a poor state of repair.

With grateful thanks to the department, new seats are now in place - one is pictured (right) :

Tuesday, 28 July 2015

Residents will recall that in recent months, my LibDem colleague Cllr Willie Wilson of Perth and Kinross Council and I have highlighted the problems the X7 hospital link bus service causes many constituents who are elderly or who have mobility difficulties, given the style of bus used.

I advised last month that Willie had written to Sir Brian Souter, Chairman of the Stagecoach Group, requesting that he intervenes in this matter.

Willie has now received a rather disappointing reply from Stagecoach that you can read here.

Willie has now issued the following news release about the situation - reported in today's Courier. We will both continue to campaign for a better style of bus or coach to be used in this service :

X7 Bus Service

Willie Wilson, Scottish Liberal Democrat Councillor for Perth South has been campaigning on behalf of local residents to request Stagecoach to replace the type of coach provided on the X7 Bus Service, the hospital inter-link bus between Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital. He is being supported in this campaign by his Scottish Liberal Democrat colleague on Dundee City Council, Councillor Fraser Macpherson. In addition, all three other local members for Perth South area, Councillor Bob Band, Councillor Alistair Munro and Councillor Alexander Stewart, strongly support the moves taken by Councillor Wilson.

Following receipt of the response from Mr Martin Griffiths, Chief Executive of the Stagecoach Group, Councillor Wilson said:

“This is an extremely disappointing response. It just really ignores the total issue. There is adequate testimony to indicate that the buses are not suitable for inter-hospital transport between PRI, Ninewells and Royal Victoria Hospital. We have had numerous complaints from residents; both in Dundee and Perth, on the matter and, apart from some very minor adjustments to the buses, Stagecoach have failed to address this. The response is totally unacceptable.

I am writing back to the Chief Executive asking him to join me on the bus one day on a return journey between the two hospitals so that he can see for himself the difficulty that people have in gaining access to the bus, climbing the stairs and negotiating the narrow passage, especially when the bus is moving.

I am really disappointed that a huge company like Stagecoach cannot set their minds to resolving the problem rather than just repeating information they have already given and indicating that passenger numbers have increased so that’s all that matters. The public deserve better.”

Sunday, 26 July 2015

"Communities staff are keen to start the process of identifying interest in developing an organisation to deliver evening learning opportunities from the fantastic new Harris facility when it opens in 2016.

You may well recall the Harris Education and Recreation Association (HERA) that disbanded when Harris closed for rebuild but over the years delivered all sorts of classes from yoga and ballroom dancing to floral art, guitar lessons and Gaelic for beginners. Similar organisations continue, with great success, at Grove in Broughty Ferry ward and at Morgan in Maryfield ward.

If you are at all interested in getting involved in preliminary discussions about this west end development, or just want to find out a bit more, I'd be delighted if you got in touch with me."

If you are interested in finding out more, please e-mail me at harris@frasermacpherson.org.uk and I will pass on your note of interest to our Communities Officer.

Saturday, 25 July 2015

Update from the City Council about the management of dog walking at Riverside Nature Park :

"The Environment Department wishes to gather views on a change to the management of dog walking at Riverside Nature Park.

Riverside Nature Park is part of the Inner Tay Estuary Local Nature Reserve opened in 2011, and borders on the Tay Estuary which is protected internationally and known for some of the most important wetland wildlife in Britain, mainly wading birds. The Nature Park has been created from a land fill, with grazed areas, scrub and Dundee's largest wildflower meadows. Over 130 bird species, some rare to Britain have been recorded by volunteers at the site. Many species roost and nest on the ground and are easy to disturb. Abandoned nests with dead eggs and chicks have been found at the reserve.

Dundee City Council is seeking to change the behaviour of dog walkers to protect the birds on the site. Please help us by completing the short survey which you can access here."

Friday, 24 July 2015

Earlier this year, I took part in the launch of the Co-wheels community car club in the city.

Co-wheels is a social enterprise that provides a public access car club and has a Dundee fleet of 15 vehicles, including low emission, hybrid and electric cars and a vehicle suitable for wheelchair use.

West End residents will have noted the charging points in places like South Tay Street and Perth Road. Following the infrastructure progress, Co-wheels has now advised me that :

“We are just about to roll out an extensive promotional campaign which will include the following :

Thursday, 23 July 2015

Last week, I advised of the rollout of Phase 2 of the recycling extension and changes to bin arrangements that will start in November. As I pointed out, in Phase 2 are the areas around Tullideph, Pentland, City Road, Brook Street, eastern part of Blackness Road, Peddie Street, South Tay Street and Windsor Street.

However, there is a significant change to the Phase 2 that was originally agreed at council committee in that the Perth Road Lanes and surrounding area is now excluded, something I mentioned last week that I had queried with the Environment Department.

I have now been advised by the department:

“The inclusion of the Perth Road lanes into future phases will be dependant on routing changes as each phase progresses so whilst I cannot, at this stage, be specific in advising which phase these will be part of, I can advise that it's highly unlikely that they will be included in Phase 3 (February 2016) as this corresponds to a different area of the city.

At the very latest, these lanes would be provided with their new services as part of Phase 6 (March 2017) but this may happen much sooner if routing changes as part of Phases 4 or 5 (June & December 2016 respectively) allow these to be included here.

As we progress with planning each phase we will be able to provide more updates on areas included - please note that the implementation dates given are approximate & may be subject to change.”

The next West End Christmas Fortnight planning meet takes place tomorrow.

The activities take a lot of planning (hence meetings in July!) and if any resident or local business wants to play a role with West End Christmas Fortnight 2015, do please let me know - christmas2015@frasermacpherson.org.uk - many thanks.

Monday, 20 July 2015

Earlier this month, the new 'Good to Go' service replaced the Friendly Bus sheltered shopping service that has been operated by Stagecoach for a number of years.

I advised at that time that there would be alterations to the timetable compared to the former the West End Friendly Bus timetable (although the day for the West End remains unchanged – Tuesday) .

'Good to Go' has now advised me that the pick-up revised times are now :

Tullideph - 12.30pm

Morven Terrace - 12.35pm

Logie Gardens/Logie Avenue/Scott Street - 12.45pm

Muirlands (Seafield Lane) - 1.05pm

Patons Lane - 1.15pm

Richmond Court - 1.35pm

Corso Street/Abbotsford Street - 1.45pm

Pennycook Court - 1.50pm

'Good to Go' also advises, "It would be our intention to listen to people’s feedback on the ‘new’ service and then after the first couple of weeks tweak the schedules it to make sure it is best meeting people’s needs. We would then produce printed and on-line schedules for public distribution."

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Yesterday, the City Council announced the detail of Phase 2 of the changes to bin collection and recycling arrangements for the West End (and parts of the Lochee Ward). The Environment Department advises me that :

"Arrangements for Phase 2

• First collections – these will start w/c Monday 9th November 2015.

• Bin deliveries – these will take place during the two weeks prior to commencement (w/c 26th October & w/c 2nd November).Combined collection calendars and full service information leaflets will also be delivered during this period.

• Teaser leaflets –Phase 2 residents will have received notification of the forthcoming changes via a “teaser” leaflet to be delivered mid-September – this leaflet will advertise local roadshows and events, as well as providing information on the new service. This information will also signpost residents to the council website, e-mail address and phone line, should they have any queries.

• Consultation and engagement – a range of consultation & engagement activities will be ongoing throughout the phase 2 area during the summer and autumn, with residents notified of meetings & events via press, local advertising and, where applicable, by letter. We will, of course, notify Councillors in the affected areas of any meetings, roadshows or events taking place within their ward."

Main features include :

•Weekly separate food waste collection

•Increased range of materials accepted in blue bins. This is currently used for paper and card but will be able to also accept plastics and metal. Frequency of uplifts to change from 4-weekly to 2-weekly

•Slimline burgundy bin for mixed glass - collected 4-weekly

•Reduction from weekly to fortnightly general waste collections

•Expanded assisted collection service - now available for blue & burgundy bin collections

•No change to garden waste service

In phase 2 of are the areas around Tullideph Pentland City Road Brook Street, eastern part of Blackness Road, Peddie Street, South Tay Street and Windsor Street. There is a significant change to the Phase 2 that was originally agreed at council committee in that the Perth Road Lanes and surrounding area is now excluded, something I have queried with the Environment Department.

A plan showing the areas that are included is below - although you can click here to download a high-definition PDF map that allows you to zoom to show particular streets :

Last night's Evening Telegraph article also highlighted my concerns about the continued inadequate serving of the Roseangle Recycling Centre. This has been an on-going issue and I have received the following assurance from the City Council :

"We will be reconfiguring the bin types and capacities at Roseangle over the coming days. This work is currently being scheduled."

As you can see (below) the Roseangle centre was given a tidy up earlier this week following my raising the latest concern :

I have also been promised similar attention to the overflowing centre at Kings Cross Road, following a complaint to me about it from a City Road constituent who uses that centre regularly.

Monday, 13 July 2015

I recently mentioned that I had taken up with the City Council the poor condition of the roadway of Fort Street. As one resident put it, "potholes ... are bad and getting worse and loose gravel all over the place."

I have now had the following response from the council's Road Maintenance Partnership :

A Road Maintenance Partnership inspector has arranged for a mechanical sweeper to visit Fort Street and has also raised an order for the repair of the potholes noted with a timescale for completion of twenty eight days or sooner.

Saturday, 11 July 2015

Last month, I called on mobile phone network providers to take a more sympathetic approach to residential amenity when upgrading mobile phone masts. This follows news that one applicant, Wilkinson Helsby, plans to upgrade a mast in Perth Road near to Glamis Road but replace the current mast which is disguised as a telegraph pole (see photo) with an undisguised mast.

I wrote to Wilkinson Helsby asking them to think again about the type of mast to be used and provide one that will not impact adversely on the look of the area. However, in response, the company has now advised me:

“We do not have a replica telegraph pole design which can accommodate the dual user (EE and H3G) 4G upgrade so there is not a “disguised” option available. The Scottish Government has changed its planning regulations and thus unlike England and Wales there is no planning boundaries to this genre of development. In England and Wales the planning department can consider these as GPDO applications and refuse them but this has been “closed off” by the new Scottish Government regulations.”

It is very poor indeed that the Scottish Government’s overly laissez faire approach effectively gives the mobile phone company the ability to put what it likes onsite and replace a phone mast which is well disguised as a telephone pole, tree or similar, with an undisguised pole which is an eyesore.

Scottish planning legislation is not stringent enough in this area, thereby allowing mobile phone companies to put undisguised masts in residential areas, which is extremely unfortunate.

I have therefore written to the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights asking that a review of the planning legislation be undertaken.

Friday, 10 July 2015

Yesterday, along with two members of the Bonnie Dundee team, I had a very useful site visit with the new maintenance contractor for JCDecaux, who own the seating area at the corner of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road, in front of the company's advertising hoardings.

The area has become overgrown, untidy and there's also some litter - see below. We were pleased to get assurances that, henceforth, the area will be maintained fortnightly, which is good news.

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

From this week, Factory Travel will be delivering a number of new travel services for elderly people in Dundee. The new services, badged as 'Good to Go' will replace the Friendly Bus sheltered shopping service that has been operated by Stagecoach for a number of years.

While the Travel Factory will retain a weekly supermarket shopping service, it will also provide day trip opportunities and organised outings for older people. It is also hoping to develop services for hospital visiting and other useful services in the months ahead.

A poster with information is below.

I understand that there will be alterations to the timetable for the West End Friendly Bus timetable (which runs today – Tuesday) but that sheltered housing complexes have been contacted about this.

If any resident has any query or problem about the changes, please give me a call on 459378 – many thanks.

Scotland's finest young traditional singer, BBC Scotland's Young Traditional Musician 2014, Scots Singer of the Year nominee, will be singing on board the Unicorn on Friday 10th July.

Robyn, who hails from Stranraer, is touring Scotland to celebrate her debut album "Fickle Fortune" which was released in May to critical acclaim.

Recent career highlights include being commissioned to record "Coming Thro The Rye" for Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, and performances at the Trad Music Awards and, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, at Proms in the Park!

Robyn is no stranger to Dundee having given two recitals at the Wighton Heritage Centre. Sheena Wellington, who tutored Robyn during her honours year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said of her former student :

'Robyn was gifted with a beautiful voice, warm, rich, flexible and distinctive. Couple this with a true love and respect for her material and the ability to engage an audience anywhere from a care home to a Prom concert hall and you have a very special singer indeed.'

Robyn will be accompanied by band members Kristan Harvey of Blazin Fiddles (Young Traditional Musician 2011), David McNee in guitar and bouzouki and Alistair Iain Paterson on piano and harmonium (Young Traditional Musician Finalist 2014).

Monday, 6 July 2015

Over a long period of time, I have highlighted the very poor state of the shared roadway/footway of Shaftesbury Place (see right).

It has never been adopted by the City Council and is one of relatively few unadopted roadways in the city.

Following meetings with residents in the past, I attempted at the council's 2012/13 budget meeting to create an unadopted roads fund to assist this sort of situation, but unfortunately this was outvoted.

Residents again recently highlighted the concern about the deteriorating state of the road and tonight, along with 15 residents of the street, three council officers and two of my ward colleagues, I participated in a meeting at Blackness Library at which the issue was discussed, as were issues around the bin and recycling collection system.

There was a good exchange of views and options tonight and I urged that the residents to consider forming a residents' group to consider the possible alternative solutions. I'll continue to help residents in any way I can.

Now that the school summer holidays are underway, my usual weekly ward surgeries do not take place, but I can still be contacted on any local issues or concerns through my e-surgery - just e-mail esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk.

I can also be contacted at home at any time on 459378 and also during office hours at my Dundee City Council office on 434985.

Surgeries commence again in August with the start of the new school year.

Sunday, 5 July 2015

Specially curated for Print Festival Scotland, this new exhibition features a personal selection of prints from the University’s collection made by renowned artist and printmaker Jim Pattison. Now open at the Tower Foyer Gallery in the Tower Building, University of Dundee, it runs until 26th September.

Jim is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University. He studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art from 1973-79 and taught in Fine Art there from 1990 until 2002. He says: “I was very pleased to be offered the opportunity to choose work for this exhibition and to have the chance to look through the University’s superb collection of prints. I hope this small selection gives some idea of the quality and diversity of the work in this collection.”

Jim has selected a wide range of prints dating from 1730 up to today, and including renowned artists such as Ian Hamilton Finlay, Ken Currie, John Bellany and Salvador Dali.

We have lots more happening for the festival – check out the details here.

Print Festival Scotland was founded in 2013 to coincide with IMPACT 8 Print Conference, and celebrates the community, culture and diversity of print-based art. The festival is managed by Dundee Contemporary Arts in partnership with participating organisations across Scotland. View the whole programme here.

Saturday, 4 July 2015

TACTRAN, the regional transport partnership for Tayside & Stirling, has introduced www.GoToo.com, a new website aimed at providing travel information that is lifestyle focussed.

GoToo provides residents and visitors with tailored information to explore and get around the Tayside and Central Scotland area, as well as providing a range of travel tools and options to ease the daily commute.

GoToo has people as its focus, recognising that visitors are looking for places to visit before they travel and want to know how to get there; residents are keen to find their travel options for getting around the area and commuters are looking for travel information while on the move. GoToo has been designed to provide travel information where and when it is needed across a range of platforms – PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

TACTRAN, together with other organisations including Angus, Dundee City, Perth & Kinross and Stirling Councils, Visit Scotland, NHS, University of Dundee and Traveline Scotland have worked in partnership to provide this people focussed travel website.

Please note, as a result of this new website, TACTRAN’s existing TactranConnect website will no longer operate.

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

This afternoon, I had the pleasure of calling by the 30th birthday celebrations of the One World Centre, Dundee's learning centre dedicated to social justice and learning for sustainability.

Over the past 30 years the centre has supported schools and community groups in Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross to engage in global citizenship through active learning.

Sandra addresses tonight's meeting

This evening, it was a pleasure to be at the monthly meeting of Community Spirit Action Group, the community group for the "north" part of West End Ward, covering Pentland, Tullideph, Ancrum and the Cleghorn area.The meeting took place at a new location - the Tullideph Sheltered Lounge - an experiment by the group to take meetings around the local community. This certainly was an experiment that worked - a really good turnout and a hugely informative and entertaining talk by Sandra Thomson of McGregor Balfour Textiles Limited, who spoke about her Jute Journey.

It was also a good opportunity to speak with local residents about a number of local issues including bins, parking and road repairs.

Residents have raised with me concerns about road safety at the Bankmill Road/Milnbank Road junction, with vehicles coming along Milnbank Road having to pull in at the junction to give way to vehicles heading along Milnbank Road in the opposite direction.

I raised the concerns with the City Council and the City Council's Head of Transportation has now updated me as follows :

"From a recent site inspection and information provided by yourself the vehicles travelling along Milnbank Road are unlikely vehicles exceeding the 30 mph speed limit but due to parked vehicles and the narrow carriageway width they may perception that vehicles are exceeding the 30 mph speed limit.

There are double yellow on the south side of Milnbank Road at the Bankmill Road junction to maintain the free passage of vehicles with a give and take arrangement in place. This will be the part of the concerns that your constituent raises that the junction is used as a pull in, however there are very limited options available in this vicinity. Due to the residential flats on the north side of Milnbank Road it is not feasible to place double yellow lines along the full length of the north side as this would prohibit the residents from parking near their properties and would likely be met with objections.

I will arrange to carry out further monitoring of this location and consider this location for inclusion within a future traffic speed survey site. It may be that difficult options looking at additional parking restrictions opposite Bankmill Road may be needed. This may be countered that it is disproportionate and that the continuation of occasional pulling into the junction has to be tolerated by residents of Bankmill Road, as regular user of the area you drive cautiously in expectation that this may arise.

My engineers will report back in the coming months once the surveys and further observations are undertaken."